XXX. 1370. the defensive. Here a knight in the English CHAP. army determined to show his prowess, by striking with his spear against the gate of the city. He accordingly rode singly through the suburbs for that purpose, and accomplished his design; while the Frenchmen from the walls exclaimed, "Go thy way in God's name; sufficiently hast thou proved thy knighthood." On his return however, he was assaulted unawares by a butcher, and felled to the ground, and afterward murdered by the populace *. standing among theng manders. The campaign of this year was closed by Misundera misfortune of some magnitude. Sir Robert Knolles, having accomplished the object lish comof his mission, retired to the west of France, and directed the different detachments of his army to fix their winter-quarters in Britanny, the duke of which country was in alliance with Edward III. Some of the young nobility in his army murmured against these orders. Sir Robert Knolles was of mean ex Ditto, Chap. cclxxxviii.. CHAP traction; his first situation in the army had XXX. 1370. been that of a private soldier'; and, notwithstanding his high military qualities, these young knights had with great reluctance submitted to his command. They now alleged that the period of their service was expired, and that they were no longer bound to obedience. They derided the weakness of the French, who had suffered them to march through the heart of the kingdom without offering to molest them, and declared their intention to take up their quarters in the enemy's territories". Du Guesclin. During these dissensions, it happened that marches against them. Du Guesclin, the general with whom the Black Prince had fought at Najara, and who was now fast rising into eminence, had been recalled by a message of Charles V. from the Castillian service, and had lately arrived in France. He was anxious to do something 1 Weever, Funeral Monuments: Diocese of London; White Friars. m Walsingham, ad ann. XXX. 1370. on his native soil, to justify the expectations CHA P. that were formed of him. In this situation, he heard of the state of sir Robert Knolles's army, and immediately conceived that the occasion which he sought was offered to him. He set out on his march from Paris with such forces as he could collect. The English general heard of his approach, and began to flatter himself that he should obtain the offer of a battle, which during his whole march he had earnestly sought. He summoned with all haste his different corps from their winterquarters to meet him. They were however less prompt and exact in their obedience than the circumstances required; and the quarters which they had wilfully chosen placed them too nearly within reach of the enemy. Indefatigable exertion and celerity of motion were the characteristics of Du Guesclin's excellence, and were of the highest service to him on this occasion. He came with up detachment of eight thousand English, who were on their march to join their general, and was so successful as to kill or take pri a His sue cess. 1370. CHAP. Soners the whole of this body". Having done XXX. this, he felt that he had effected all that he expected or desired. He withdrew; and left the general and officers of the English army to`lament the fatal effects of jealousy and disobedience. Chaucer sent upon mission. In the course of this year we find Chaucer a special employed upon some commission to the continent, the object of which is not explained to us. All that appears on the record is that, being about to pass beyond sea for the service of the king, he had letters of protection delivered to him for that purpose. These letters bear date on the twentieth of June. It is not easy to decide whether his marriage took place previously to this journey, or after his return. The age of Thomas Chaucer however, his son, who was speaker of the house of commons in the second year of Henry IV, may well incline us to assign the earliest admissible date to his father's marriage. Froissart, Chap ccxçi. Appendix, No. VI. CHAP. XXXI. DUKE OF LANCASTER LIEUTENANT OF AQUITAINE. HIS TITLE TO THAT CROWN. XXXI. 1371. of the Prince IN the beginning of the year 1371, the CHAP. Black Prince, finding his health become daily more infirm, took his final leave of the go- Retirement vernment of Aquitaine, and sailed, with his Black consort, and his only surviving child, Richard, for England. The period of his departure was marked with the melancholy circumstance of the death of his eldest son, seven years of age, whose funeral rites he left to the direction of his brother, the duke of Lancaster. He at the same time committed Walsingham, A. D. 1370. |